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Diabetes mellitus adversely affects the contractile ability of the small intestine. However, there is a paucity of studies investigating the impact of garlic oil on small intestinal motility. This study aimed to evaluate the potential beneficial effects of garlic oil on type 2 diabetes mellitus in rats. Thirty-six adult female Wistar rats (n = 36) were divided into four groups: control, non-diabetic rats supplemented with garlic oil, diabetic rats, and diabetic rats treated with garlic oil. The rats were anesthetized using pentobarbitone (40 mg/kg BW); various motility parameters and oxidative markers were determined in small intestinal segments. Measurements were taken for naso-anal length, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose level (FBG), and plasma insulin level. Compared to the control group, the diabetic rats exhibited a reduction in the average force of contraction and motility index in all small intestinal segments. Furthermore, the rats exhibited a reduction in the average duration of muscle contraction only in the jejunum. The rats also exhibited hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, significant oxidative stress, and obesity. This was proven by changes in motility parameters, fasting blood glucose levels, HOMA-IR values, intestinal MDA levels, and waist circumference. The non-diabetic rats supplemented with garlic oil also exhibited a decrease in the average force of contraction and motility index in all small intestinal segments, despite having consistently higher Lee index and waist circumference values. However, the diabetic rats treated with garlic oil demonstrated improved small intestinal motility in nearly all small intestinal segments and a reduction in oxidative stress. In conclusion, rats with diabetes mellitus experienced a decrease in small intestinal motility, which is primarily driven by oxidative stress. Normal rats administered with garlic oil supplements exhibited similar effects. In contrast, garlic oil treatment in diabetic rats led to enhanced small intestinal motility and a notable anti-hyperglycemic effect, which can be attributed to the potent antioxidant properties of garlic oil.

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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a worldwide chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease. We aimed to investigate and compare the neuroprotective impact of acetyl-l-carnitine and caloric restriction (CR) on AlCl3-induced AD to explore the pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies of AD. Sixty-seven adult male Wistar rats were allocated into Control, AlCl3, AlCl3-acetyl-l-carnitine, and AlCl3-CR groups. Each of AlCl3 and acetyl-l-carnitine were given by gavage in a daily dose of 100 mg/kg and CR was conducted by giving 70% of the daily average caloric intake of the control group. Rats were subjected to behavioral assessment using open field test, Y maze, novel object recognition test and passive avoidance test, biochemical assay of serum phosphorylated tau (pTau), hippocampal homogenate phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, Beclin-1, Bcl-2-associated X protein, and B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) as well as hippocampal Ki-67 and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunohistochemistry. AlCl3-induced cognitive and behavioral deficits coincident with impaired autophagy and enhanced apoptosis associated with defective neurogenesis and defective astrocyte activation. Acetyl-l-carnitine and CR partially protect against AlCl3-induced behavioral, cognitive, biochemical, and histological changes, with more ameliorative effect of acetyl-l-carnitine on hippocampal apoptotic markers, and more obvious behavioral and histological improvement with CR.

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In the light of the fast growing several applications of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) in different industrial and agricultural sectors, this paper was conducted to explore the suitability of endophytic fungi as nano-factories for SeNPs. Thus, 75 fungal isolates were recovered from plant tissues and tested for their efficacy to biosynthesize SeNPs. Four promising strains were found able to synthesis SeNPs with different characteristics and identified. These strains were Aspergillus quadrilineatus isolated from the twigs of Ricinus communis, Aspergillus ochraceus isolated from the leaves of Ricinus communis, Aspergillus terreus isolated from the twigs of Azadirachta indica, and Fusarium equiseti isolated from the twigs of Hibiscus rose-sinensis. The synthesized SeNPs were characterized by several techniques viz., UV-Vis, X-ray diffraction, Dynamic light scattering analyses, High resolution transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, to study their crystalline structure, particle sized distribution, and morphology. Furthermore, the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities were evaluated. SeNPs synthesized by the four strains showed potent antifungal and antibacterial potentials against different human and phyto- pathogens. Moreover, SeNPs synthesized by the respective strains showed promising antioxidant power with IC50 values of 198.32, 151.23, 100.31, and 91.52 µg mL- 1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the use of endophytic fungi for SeNPs' biosynthesis. The presented research recommends the use of endophytic fungi as facile one-pot production bio-factories of SeNPs with promising characteristics.

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Schistosomiasis is a serious parasitic infection affecting millions worldwide. This study aimed to explore the anti-schistosomal activity of curcumin and curcumin loaded gold-nanoparticles (Cur-GNPs) with or without praziquantel (PZQ). We used six groups of the C57BL/6 mice in which five groups were infected with Schistosoma Mansoni (S. mansoni) cercariae and exhibited, separately, to different treatment regimens of curcumin, curcumin loaded nanoparticle, and PZQ, in addition to one untreated group which acts as a control. Mice were sacrificed at the 8th week where both worms and eggs were counted in the hepatic and porto-mesenteric vessels in the liver and intestine, respectively, in addition to a histopathological examination of the liver granuloma. Curcumin caused a significant reduction in the worms and egg count (45.45%) at the 3rd week. A significant schistosomicidal effect of PZQ was found in all groups. Cur-GNPs combined with PZQ 97.4% reduction of worm burden in the 3rd week and the highest reduction in the intestinal and hepatic egg content, as well, besides 70.1% reduction of the granuloma size. The results suggested the curcumin in combination with PZQ as a strong schistosomicidal regimen against S. mansoni as it alters the hematological, biochemical, and immunological changes induced.

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This study was carried out to investigate the effect of mannitol, sorbitol and sucrose as osmotic agents on in vitro conservation of embryogenic cultures of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera, L.) Bartamoda and Sakkoty cultivars. Embryogenic cultures was obtained using MS medium supplemented with 10 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and 3 mg/l isopentenyl adenine (2iP). Among the three types of osmotic substances used for slow growth conservation, sucrose at all concentrations gave the highest percentage of survival with Sakkoty cultivar. However, addition of 40 g/l or 60 g/l mannitol and 20 g/l sorbitol showed the highest percentage of survival percentage with Bartamoda cultivar. The different sucrose concentrations caused higher numbers of germinated embryos of the two cultivars compared with mannitol or sorbitol. Also, the number of germinated embryos was increased with increasing the storage periods till the ninth month. Genetic stability was determined using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. There were no clear genetic differences between the two osmotic agents used for preservation. The preserved cultures of Sakkoty cultivar gave the high percent of similarity while Bartamoda cultivar gave low percent of similarity. From the obtained results we can recommend using 40 g/l mannitol or 20 g/l sorbitol for in vitro preservation of Bartamoda cultivar of date palm and 20 g/l of sucrose for Sakkoty cultivar.

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A total of 336 one-day-old Hubbard broiler chickens were randomly distributed among 8 groups, each containing six replicates (7 chickens/replicate). From 1 to 40 days of age, the groups fed the same starter, grower and finisher diets. The control group was unsupplemented; zinc bacitracin (ZnB) group received the antibiotic at 0.5 g/kg; fungal phytase (FP) groups received 250, 500 and 1000 U/kg diet of Aspergillus niger phytase (FP_250, FP_500 and FP_1000 groups), respectively; bacterial phyatse (BP) groups received 250, 500 and 1000 U/kg diet of Escherichia coli phytase (BP_250EP, BP_500EP and BP_1000EP groups) respectively. Considering the whole experimental period, body weight gain was unaffected by ZnB and different concentrations of bacterial and fungal phytase; however, the feed conversion ratio of the group fed a diet supplemented with 500 U of BP was better (p < 0.01) than those fed with a diet supplemented with 500 U of FP. BP_250 group had a higher (p < 0.05) apparent digestibility of ether extract compared to FP_250 group. In conclusion, bacterial phytase at 500 U may enhance performance of broiler chickens fed during days 1-40 of age and yield similar growth performance and economic efficiency to those of eB-supplemented groups.

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Estimated 500,000 - 1 million cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are reported to occur yearly worldwide, with a mean annual incidence of around 3 - 4% of global population. HCC is rapidly fatal in most patients; that makes its incidence and mortality rates almost equal. In the last 5-10 years there were many alarming reports of sharply increased incidence of HCC. In Egypt, HCC reported to account for about 4.7% of chronic liver disease (CLD) patients, which has tremendous impact on socio-economic development in the country. Available data suggests indirect evidence of an association between Schistosoma mansoni and hepatocellular carcinoma, possibly through potentiation of hepatitis infections. The present study was conducted case control analysis of 60 HCC patients. Chronic schistosomiasis cases were confirmed by finding Anti-Schistosoma mansoni antibodies IgG by ELISA. Hepatitis C viral infection was proved by detection of viral load by quantitative Real time PCR. Among the study group 56.6% (34/60) were dweller in rural in Al-Fayoum governorate. Within hepatocellular carcinoma cases 26.7% (16/60) and 33.3% (20/60) suffered mono chronic schistosomiasis and mono hepatitis C (HCV) infections respectively, with no statistically significant differences (p=0.37), indicating comparable risk value of both infections in predisposing directly to HCC. Additionally; frequency of HCC patients with assumed potentiated HCV infection by chronic Schistosoma mansoni 6.7% (4/60) were statistically significant (p<0.05) less among total HCC patients included in this study, when compared to HCC patients preceded by either pure chronic schistosomiasis 26.7% (16/60) or pure HCV infection 33.3% (20/60). Our present study is one of few, addressing the possibility of direct relation between S. mansoni & hepatic carcinoma, concluding an initial indication of equal risk value of both human chronic S. mansoni infection and hepatitis C viral infections in precipitating hepatocellular carcinoma among Egyptian patients.

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UNLABELLED: Ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury is a main cause of transplanted kidney dysfunction and rejection. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a causal role in cellular damage induced by I/R. Antioxidant vitamins and Nitric oxide (NO) were postulated to play renoprotective effects against I/R. This study compares the protective effects of vitamin C with that of the nitric oxide donor, L-arginine, on renal I/R injury in adult rats. The study was performed on 50 adult Wistar rats of both sexes, divided into 5 groups: I: Control group, receive daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) saline for 3 days. II: Renal I/R group, received i.p saline for 3 days and subjected to renal I/R. III: L-arginine Pretreated, 400 mg/kg/day i.p. for 3 days prior to I/R. IV: Vitamin C Pretreated, 500 mg/kg/day i.p. 24 hours prior to I/R. V: combined L-arginine and Vitamin C Pretreated, exposed to Renal I/R group. At the end of the experiment, plasma urea and creatinine were determined. Kidney tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), NO, catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured and kidneys were examined histologically. RESULTS: I/R group showed significant increase in plasma urea, creatinine, and renal MDA, and a significant decrease in renal catalase with marked necrotic epithelial cells and infiltration by inflammatory cells in kidney section compared to the control group. All the treated groups showed significant decrease in urea, creatinine, and MDA, and a significant increase in catalase with less histopathological changes in kidney sections compared to I/R group. However, significant improvements in urea, MDA, and catalase were found in vitamin C pretreated and combined treated groups than L-arginine pretreated group. CONCLUSION: Oxidative stress is the primary element involved in renal I/R injury. So, antioxidants play an important renoprotective effects than NO donors.

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AIM: To study the effect of poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles (MPs) preparation techniques on particle physical characterization with special emphasis on burst drug release. METHODS: A basic drug clozapine was used in combination with acid-terminated PLGA. Two approaches for MP preparation were compared; the in situ forming microparticle (ISM) and the emulsion-solvent evaporation (ESE) methods using an experimental design. The MPs obtained were compared according to their physical characterization, burst release and T80%. An in vivo pharmacokinetic study with in vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC) was also performed for the selected formula. RESULTS: Both methods were able to sustain drug release for three weeks. ISM produced more porous particles and was not effective as ESE for controlling burst release. A good IVIVC (R(2) = 0.9755) was attained when injecting the selected formula into rats. CONCLUSION: MPs prepared with ESE showed a minimum burst release and a level A IVIVC was obtained when administered to rats.

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BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, accounting for 1-3% of all gastrointestinal malignancies. Throughout the whole length of the gastrointestinal tract, GIST arises most commonly from the stomach followed by small bowel. The clinical presentations of GIST are highly variable according to their site and size. The most frequent symptoms are anemia, weight loss, gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain and massrelated symptoms. Patients may present with acute abdomen, obstruction, perforation or rupture and peritonitis. Surgical resection is the "gold standard" for therapy of GIST. Recently, targeted therapy with inhibitors of tyrosine kinase receptors (imatinib) has been introduced for the management of advanced and metastatic tumors. PURPOSE: The aim of this work is to present the experience of the Gastrointestinal Surgery Unit, Alexandria Faculty of Medicine in the management of patients with GIST related emergencies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was carried out on all patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors who presented to the Gastrointestinal Surgery Unit, Main Alexandria University Hospital in an emergency situation during the period from January 2005 till December 2012. All patients' data, clinical presentations, radiological and endoscopic data, surgical procedures, complications, and survival data were collected, reviewed and analyzed. After approval of local ethics committee, all patients included in the study were informed well about the procedure and an informed written consent was obtained from every patient before carrying the procedure. RESULTS: Between January 2005 and December 2012; 92 patients (54 males and 38 females) were admitted with different emergency presentations of clinically and radiologically suspected GISTs. The tumors were located in the stomach in 49 patients, in the duodenum in 6 patients, in the small intestine in 27 patients, in the small intestinal mesentery in 4 patients, in the colon in 3 patients and in the rectum in 3 patients. The most frequent presenting symptom was gastrointestinal bleeding in 45 patients. Twenty-six patients presented with intestinal obstruction, 14 patients with intraperitoneal hemorrhage and 7 patients with rupture and peritonitis. Ninety patients were operated upon. Two patients presented with extensive GIST, and were not candidate for surgical treatment. All operated patients underwent surgical resection. Complete macroscopic resection was achieved in 86 patients (95.6%), while 4 patients (4.4%) had incomplete resection. All over 11 patients developed metastases, or recurrence. The 3 and 5-years overall survival rates for all patients, using the Kaplan-Meier actuarial curve, were 92.1% and 81.4% respectively. The 3 and 5-years disease-free survival rates for all patients were 73.2% and 64.5% respectively. CONCLUSION: Although GISTs are uncommon, their incidence is probably increasing especially their emergency presentations. The emergency surgeon must be acquainted with the disease, its emergency presentation and principles of surgery in the presence of GIST tumors. Early diagnosis and treatment would save life of many patients who presented with GIST related emergencies. Surgery is still the gold standard treatment in localized GIST, although the percentage of relapse is not low even after radical surgery. The prognosis is strictly related to size and completeness of surgical resection. We strongly advocate that all patients with a GIST be carefully and regularly followed-up for an indefinite period. The large number of patients in this series is an alarming signal for further studies to elucidate the pathogenesis of this disease.

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Engineering polymer surfaces reduces nanoparticles (NPs) aggregation and phagocytosis due to effective shielding, hindering recognition by the reticuloendothelial system (RES). The shielding of NPs is complex and affected by the type of groups used in terms of charge and hydrophilicity. This will, in turn, affect NPs biodistribution which will determine the length of activity of the drug. Polysaccharides are nowadays recognized for decreasing the uptake of particulate carriers by the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS). Chitosan is considered as an attractive candidate due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity and low cost. In this study clozapine (CZP)-loaded NPs were coated with chitosan, pluronic F-68, polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 and polysorbate 80. The factors affecting drug encapsulation efficiency, particle size, surface charge, surface hydrophilicity, pharmacokinetics and biodistribution were studied. The results proved that although a similarity in surface hydrophilicity, chitosan-stealth NPs showed different pharmacokinetic profile and biodistribution behavior compared to polysorbate-stealth NPs.

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The pyrimidine thione derivatives 2a-d were prepared by the reaction of thiourea, ethyl cyanoacetate and several aromatic aldehydes. The acyclic thioglycosides 4a-7d were prepared by the reaction of the synthesized pyrimidine thiones 2a-d with different alkyl halides, whereas the reaction of 2a-d with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl bromide afforded the cyclic thioglycosides 8a-d whose deprotection afforded 9a-d. The obtained compounds were tested for their antischistosomal and antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV). Compounds 5a, 5d, 7a showed high activity against HBV using the MTT assay; moreover compounds 5c, 6d, 7a, 9a, 9c exhibited high activity as antischistosomal agents.

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In order to investigate the effect of different levels of oral glucose supplementation and/or reproductive method on productive and reproductive performance of New Zealand White (NZW) doe rabbits in the tropic, 36 bucks and 120 doe NZW rabbits were equally divided among four treatment groups (n = 9 bucks + 30 does). The treatments consisted of supplementing drinking water with 0 (control), 2.5, 5 and 10 g glucose/l, respectively. To study the effect of reproduction method (natural v. artificial), each group was divided into two sub-groups (naturally mated and artificially inseminated) with the same bucks of the same treatment group. Glucose supplementation at 5 or 10 g/l of water increased (P < 0.01) litter weight at birth and at weaning, and litter weight gain during the 4 weeks. However, glucose supplementation at 2.5 or 5.0 g/l water decreased (P < 0.01) feed consumption from 7 to 14 days after delivery. Glucose supplementation at 2.5 g/l water did not affect productive and reproductive performance of rabbits. Artificially inseminated does had higher daily litter weight gain between 21 and 28 days post partum. Artificially inseminated group had better milk conversion during the 1st and 4th week as compared to naturally mated groups. Compared with the control group, the economic efficiency and performance index of NZW rabbits was significantly improved by 5 g glucose supplementation under tropic condition.

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Polysaccharides, which have been explored to possess gelling properties and a wide margin of safety, were used to formulate single-unit floating matrix tablets by a direct compression technique. This work has the aim to allow continuous slow release of famotidine above its site of absorption. The floating approach was achieved by the use of the low density polypropylene foam powder. Polysaccharides (kappa-carrageenan, gellan gum, xyloglucan, and pectin) and blends of polysaccharides (kappa-carrageenan and gellan gum) and cellulose ethers (hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose) were tried to modulate the release characteristics. The prepared floating tablets were evaluated for their floating behavior, matrix integrity, swelling studies, in vitro drug release studies, and kinetic analysis of the release data. The differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies revealed that changing the polymer matrix system by formulation of polymers blends resulted in formation of molecular interactions which may have implications on drug release characteristics. This was obvious from the retardation in drug release and change in its mechanistics.

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The immune response against clinical forms of chronic schistosomiasis mansoni patients with or without HCV infection was evaluated by assays the serum levels of IFN-gamma and IL-5 for estimate the cell mediated immunity and IgE level to estimate the humoral immunity. This study included three patient groups. G.I included 25 patients with intestinal schistosomiasis, G.II included 15 patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and G.III included 40 patients hepatosplenic schistosomiasis co-infected with HCV. Control G.IV included 15 healthy persons with matched age and sex. The intestinal group had high IFN-gamma (92%), normal level of IL-5 and IgE. The immune response was mainly 100% Th-1 response. The hepatosplenic patients had high IFN-gamma (26.7%), IL-5 (86.7%) and IgE (73.3%). The immune response was 73.4% Th-0, 13.3% Th-1 and 13.3% Th-2. The co-infected group had high IFN-gamma (62.7%), IL-5 (100%) and IgE (92.5%). The immune response was 62.5% Th-0 and 37.5% Th-2 immunity. The shift to Th-0 and Th-2 immunity as well as associated depression of Th-1 in mixed group of patients may be playing a role in the persistence and severity of both diseases. Such immunity defects add to decrease challenge against HCV clearance.

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Evaluation of left ventricular function in the presence of valvular regurgitation is still a clinical problem because ejection phase indices including ejection fraction are heavily dependent on preload and afterload and cannot be regarded as reliable indices of contractility in diseases associated with altered loading conditions. The authors attempted to evaluate the usefulness of the new index-corrected ejection fraction in the evaluation of left ventricular (LV) function in patients with chronic mitral (MR) or aortic regurgitation (AR). The study included 21 patients with chronic severe MR (11 patients) and AR (10 patients) with a mean age of 18 years. All patients underwent valve replacement or repair. Echo Doppler study was performed preoperatively and postoperatively and included measurement of the following LV parameters: end-diastolic dimension (EDD), end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic dimension (ESD), end-systolic volume (ESV), ejection fraction (EF), systolic blood pressure/end-systolic dimension (SBP/ESD); also mitral and aortic stroke volume were calculated cross-sectional area (CSA) x time velocity integral TVI. Corrected ejection fraction (EFc) was derived from the following equation: EFc = [EF + square root of (ASV x MSV) / EDV] / 2. The mean preoperative EFc did not change significantly after surgical correction of mitral or aortic regurgitation. Preoperative EFc did not show significant difference compared with postoperative EF in the two groups. Preoperative EFc correlated significantly with other preoperative and postoperative indices of LV function. Postoperative EFc showed very close correlation with other postoperative parameters. Thus, using the new index-corrected ejection fraction in the assessment of LV function in patients with mitral or aortic regurgitation has several advantages: Noninvasive, independent of loading changes, helpful in predicting the immediate postoperative clinical course, and a reliable index for evaluation of LV systolic function preoperatively and postoperatively.

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